The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-01-07

me have our breakfast and Won arrsr-
ward. or you fgst? Say the word. I'm
agreeable vichevcr way it goes
"rll stop on deck till you've done. "
I replied, wishing to have the table to
| myself.
| Down he went and leaned over the
poop rail to watch the men receive
their share ot>the cuddy stores. They
| were decent enough in their behavior
entering the cuddy one by one to re-
ceive the stores which the steward was
serving out.
The food consisted of butter. white
biscuit, q rasher Of ham to each man
and tea or cocoa: excellent fare to men
| who had been starved on rotten pro-
visions. I also found that each man
had been served with q glass of rum.
The carpenter was the first to come
on deck. had seen him Through the
skylight) eating like cormorant. his
arms squared. his brown tattooed
hands busy with his mouth, making
atonement for his long fast in the fore
castle. He kept his cap on. but the
boatswain had better manners, and
looked. as he faced his mate, :: quite
superior and different order of man
altogether.
As soon as was alone with the boat
swain l said to him: What has
Stevens been talking about?" As l
said this l cast my eyes on the open
skyiight to see that our friend was no.
within hearing.
He shook his head, and after short
pause exclaimed:
Hes 4 bad un, he's bad 'un! he's
an out-and-outer.i
"Do YOU know which OF them struck
the captain DOWN.
HE did," he answered. at once.
q could have sworn it, by the way
in which he excused the murderer
Stevens. continued the boatswa ain.
sis at the bottom Of all this here bust
ness-him and the cook. l suppose he
didn't want the cook for chun. and
so knocked him over when he was 60
ing to operate on Duckling's body.
But Duckling was bad 'un, too, and
50 was the skipper. They've got to
thank themselves for what they got.
The crew never would ha' turned had
they been properly fed.
Il believe that" I said. But I'll
tell you what's troubling me, boat
swain. The carpenter has some design
behind all this, which he Is conceal
ing. Does he really mean that l should
navigate to within fifty miles of New
Orleans?'
"Yes. sir. he do" answered the
boatswain, regarding me steadfastly.
land he means then to heave the ship
to, lower away the boats, and make
for one of the mouths of the Mississip-
pi, or land upon some part of the coast
and represent himself and his compan-
ions as castaway Sailors
''Quite right said the boatswain,
watching me fiNedly.
If tina. is really his Intention" l
proceeded. Il can not believe that he
will allow me to land with the others.
He distrusts NE. He is as suspicious
As all murrlerers are"
The boatswain continued cycling me
intently, Is q man might who strives to
form resolution from the expression
in another's face.
He means to scuttle the ship he
said. IN low voice.
''Ah"' l exclaimed. starting. III
should have foreSeen this.
He means to scuttie her Just before
he puts off in the boats" he added, in
a whisper.
watched him anxiously. for saw
that he had more to tell me. He
looked up at both skylights, then to-
ward the cuddy door. then toward the
companion-ladder, bent over to me
and said:
Mr.. Royie. he don't mean to let you
leave the vessel"
He means to scuttlc her, leaving
me on board:''
He nodded.
did he tell you this?"
He no.lded again.
'.Wheny'
Just now"
''And thcm9' 1 exclaimed. pointing
toward the cabin in which were Mr..
Robertson and his daughter.
They'll be left, too" he replied.
l took a deep breath and closed the
knife and fork on my plate.
Now, then. mattel bawied the car
penter's voice down the companion;
''how long are you goin' to be-"
Coming" answered the boatswain.
A thought had flashed upon me.
There must be others in this ship
whom Stevens distrusts as well As me-
l whispered. sWho are they? Give me
but two other men and yourself, and
I'll engage that the ship will be ours!
See! if these men whom he distrhsts
could be told that. at the last moment.
they would be left to sink in scuttled
ship. they would come over to my side
to save their lives. How are they to
be got att"
He shook his head without speaking.
and left :he table. but turned to saw:
Don't be in hurry. I've got two
hours afore me, and I'll turn it over"
He then went on deck.
l went into the captains cabin and
locked the door and plunged into deep
and bitter reflection. The revelation |
of the carpenters purpose was sur
prise. Villain though l knew him TO
be. / had not deemed him base enough |
to plan the murder of myself and the |
innocent persons on board the ship. |
The case seemed hopeless. 1 could |!
hardly expect the bOatswain to sacrifice !
his life in an effort to contend against |
the entire crew. The steward was . !
coward more likely to be a |
hindrance than help. had already
pointed out the course the ship was to |
steer and could not alter it The truth !
is was utterly ct my wits end. By ;
such a confession l show myseif no |
hero; but then l do not wish to be
thought one In the darkness and hor-
TOR of that hour saw no way of escape
aud so admit my blindness.